Pest Advice Blog

Don’t Let Canadian Roaches Ring In Your New Year

The end of the holiday season brings with it many things, and seeing a sudden spike in cockroach activity can be one of them. It is not uncommon during this time of year, when cold temperatures drive pests indoors, to seek warmer conditions. Cockroaches have lived off the bare essentials with few changes for millions of years, and can adapt to even the harshest Canadian winters. The high heat and humidity associated with closing up the house for colder temperatures provides the perfect conditions for higher roach reproduction.

During the food-centric holidays, friendly Canadians tend to host more guests, prepare larger meals, and have more leftovers, all of which contribute to a busier kitchen and greater possibility for the survival and reproduction of cockroaches in your home. Cockroaches can get into the cleanest of living spaces and can be found behind refrigerators, sinks and stoves, as well as under floor drains. Cockroaches can reproduce very quickly. For every one you see there can be many more hiding and multiplying behind your walls.

It is important for you to take preventative measures to protect your family and property from the health threats associated with cockroaches. Cockroaches thrive in conditions of poor sanitation and areas where there is a large amount of food available. Daily and consistent prevention can help in eliminating those attractive environments and prevent cockroach infestations.

Prevention and Control Tips:

Eliminate all food and water sources by repairing plumbing leaks especially in kitchen and bathroom areas.

Store and dispose of garbage properly.

Get rid of any places where roaches can safely hide. Cockroaches love to nest in piles of grocery bags, books, old boxes, neglected laundry, papers, and all other things that tend to pile up in a closet.

Keep the kitchen sanitary, clean up food scraps, sweep crumbs up off the floor, and wipe up spills immediately with hot, soapy water.

Do not leave pet food and water out; this provides a perfect attractant for roaches.

An effective roach extermination strategy can take time. Different species of cockroaches respond to different extermination tactics, so calling pest control professionals is a must. For a successful elimination you need your Truly Nolen Canada specialist to properly identify the cockroach and determine the best method for eradication.

Roaches Impact on Human Health

Cockroaches are not only undesirable pests to have in your home, but also a threat to human health by consuming our food and contaminating the indoor environment. Although they are commonly associated with thriving in poor sanitation conditions, they can also invade even the best-kept homes. Cockroaches can come into your home on food, packages, boxes, used furniture and appliances, or can migrate from adjoining apartments or buildings. If they get into your home, they can deposit bacteria onto uncovered food and surfaces.

Food Poisoning

Roaches are known to transfer disease pathogens, such as various bacteria that produce food poisoning in humans, by contaminating food, food preparation surfaces, dishes, and eating utensils. There are many human gastrointestinal disorders that are attributed to the mechanical transmission of pathogens by cockroaches.

Did you know cockroaches have been implicated in cases of Salmonella food poisoning? They can also carry Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, coliform, and other bacterial pathogens on their bodies. Cockroaches harbor and transmit disease pathogens and will eat just about anything from kitchen food scraps to cat feces in the litter box. They can easily pick up bacterial organisms on their legs as they scavenge on spoiled food in garbage bins. Roaches carry and spread diseases and transmit it to eating utensils, dishes, and cooking surfaces in your home. They also carry and spread harmful bacteria that cause diarrhea and gastroenteritis.

Allergies

Cockroach allergens can come from their saliva, secretions, and their bodies themselves. The debris created by cast-off cockroach skins, dead bodies, and droppings can aggravate allergies, especially in children and sensitive individuals. Sensitive children and adults develop allergic symptoms similar to those of hay fever: runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing after inhaling dust in a cockroach-infested home. Some people who are allergic to cockroaches may develop asthma if they have stayed in the home for a long period of time and now their bodies have developed a lung disorder from the allergic reactions being so frequent.

Cockroach-Induced Asthma

The roach’s greatest impact on human health may be its ability to trigger or increase the severity of asthma attacks. Cockroach nymphs grow by periodically shedding their “skin” (the exoskeleton). Fragments of their exoskeletons, along with bits of cockroach feces, when inhaled, cause allergic and asthmatic reactions.

Asthma is a chronic lung disorder that obstructs airways and causes difficulty breathing. According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, in 2010, 8.5% of the total population had been professionally diagnosed with asthma. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Asthma can be a life-threatening medical condition if left untreated. In rare cases, the most severe asthmatic attacks can lead to death. The Canadian Community Health states that about 250 Canadians die from asthma every year. Although asthma may have several potential causes, cockroach allergens in the indoor environment are a major asthma trigger. Other potential asthma triggers include dust mites, animal dander, mold, and tobacco smoke. People with asthma may react to more than one allergen so identifying and reducing exposure to all allergens are needed to manage asthma effectively. For people who are sensitive to cockroach allergens, eliminating cockroach populations will help reduce exposure to allergens.

Canada’s unique geography and climate make it rather unfriendly to humans. Most Canadians live clustered together in a handful of large cities such as Halifax, Mississauga, Ottawa, Niagara, Hamilton, and Burlington. No matter where you live, from Nova Scotia to Ontario, Truly Nolen Canada has you covered. We provide quality service while ensuring your comfort, all with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.